Blog relating to the American Presidency, specific American Presidents, and First Ladies. Posts by online college instructor Jennie Weber with additional posts by site founder Dr. Michael Lorenzen and Elementaryhistoryteacher.

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

White House Christmas Card, 2008

This year’s White House Christmas card has been sent. It depicts a scene looking out from the Truman Balcony towards the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial.

The inside is complete with Scripture from Matthew 5:16….Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify you father which is in heaven.

Many thanks go to Michael Swartz of Monoblogue for alerting me that the greeting for this year had been mailed. The image seen here is used with Michael’s permission.

This is what I could find on howt he list is compiled: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00E2DB1F3BF93AA35751C1A9649C8B63

That's from 2002, but I'm sure its still true. The card is paid for by the Republican Natinoal Committee and so probably includes most of their mailing list. My guess is that if you have contributed to the RNC in the past, that's how you got on the list. The card also goes to all members of Congress, heads of state and the like.

This year the White House sent out 1.25 million cards, all made by Hallmark, and this year on recylced paper. (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/12/20081203.html).

Something cool I found while looking this up was all the state ornaments: http://www.whitehouse.gov/holiday/2008/ornamentsbystate/index.html

I received my card on Friday. I don't believe it is contributors to the RNC that get on the list. It maybe true that people who receive them are also contributors. I think they received the card for other reasons. I have been a contributor in the past and did not receive a card. This is my first Christmas card from the White House, but I have been a guest there and I am NOT a wealthy contributor. If you try and do some good deads in your life sometimes it gets noticed. I find the Bushes to be very nice people. They are sincere and in my opinion the card is a special recognition for those who receive them.

If you've been a guest there, that sounds like it might be the reason for the card then. I do hope that the list includes good people that have simply been noticed - I just don't know beyond what I've read. I'm glad you got one, though, and hope it was for your good deeds. I'm also glad to hear that the Bushes (who I've never met, but would love to do so) seem like sincere people. I would like to believe all of our past presidents and their families have been the same, but I haven't met any of them (although I'd love to meet any of them).

My mother received a card this year. She is neither an RNC contributor nor a foreign or domestic dignitary. In fact, plainly spoken, she is a primary school volunteer librarian, teaches language course for gifted children, a cancer patient, a wife and mother to rather normal husband and children, and gives money to the local food bank. She actually quite fond of George Bush and the Republican Party, whom she credits with having rescued her from terrible political strife in her original homeland prior to becoming a naturalized citizen here more than 20 years ago ... We are confused, but she is grateful.

I work just off the White House grounds for a contractor at the ONDCP offices under the Executive Office of the President... I just started the Monday before Thanksgiving! I got both the small standard card and the amazing larger 13"x19" version! I am REALLY not a fan of the past 8 years... but, it's a lovely card!!